Sep 14, 2016

Monday September 15, 1969: Gil Hodges first place Amazing Mets (89-58) came to Busch Stadium to play Red Schoendienst's third place St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards were the reigning NL Champs, a title the Mets would soon be taking away from them.

It was a history making night at Busch Stadium for the 13,086 fans that came, as St. Louis' Steve Carlton set an MLB record (at the time)by striking out 19 batters.

Every body in the Mets line up struck out at least once, six batters went down twice and rookie Amos Otis wiffed four times on the evening, earning "the golden sombrero".

In the 4th inning, the Mets Donn Clendennon drew a walk, then Ron Swoboda hit his 8th HR of the year, putting the Mets up 2-0. Mets starter; Gary Gentry squandered the lead in the 5th inning on RBI singles by Curt Flood & Joe Torre. Carlton was rolling along until the 8th inning, he had scattered six hits and was securing a 3-2 lead. But these were the Amazing Mets of 1969.

Tommie Agee led off with a single to center field. Then with one out Ron Swoboda connected once again, hitting his 9th HR of the year, the second of the game which turned out to be the game winner 4-3. The Mets, Tug McGraw came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th. With one out, St. Louis threatened, as pinch hitter Phil Gagliano reached on an Ed Charles error at third base. Lou Brock then singled as pinch runner Joe Nossek went to second. McGraw then got Curt Flood to fly out & Vad Pinson to ground out to short to win the game. Although Carlton went into the record books, he took the loss, thanks to Ron Swoboda.